Method and apparatus for providing a computer implemented game

Abstract

A computer implemented server is configured to provide a computer implemented game. The server receivers, from a user device, data defining a user input and a simulation for a game entity determined by the user device with that user input. That user input is used by the server to generate a server simulation. The server simulation is compared to the user device simulation. If the difference between the simulations is within a threshold, the server simulation is updated by a bias. The bias depends on the difference between the simulations.

1 . A user device configured to provide a computer implemented game, the user device comprising:
 a memory configured to store a plurality of sets of snapshot data for the computer implemented game, each set of snapshot data being associated with a respective time;   a receiver configured to receive, from a server, information identifying a plurality of said sets of snapshot data, and difference data; and   at least one processor configured to:   determine a predicted set of snapshot data using the sets of snapshot data which have been identified by the information; and   apply the difference data to the predicted set of snapshot data to provide a next set of snapshot data.   
     
     
         2 . The user device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the respective set of snapshot data comprises one of a time stamp or a time range. 
     
     
         3 . The user device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the sets of snapshot data comprises data for one or more different entities of the computer implemented game. 
     
     
         4 . The user device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein one or more of the sets of snapshot data comprises a plurality of fields for one or more of the one or more different entities. 
     
     
         5 . The user device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein one or more of the one or more different entities is controlled by one or more players playing on respective different user devices. 
     
     
         6 . The user device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the computer implemented game is a multiplayer computer implemented game where one instance of the computer implemented game is played by a plurality of different players on respective user devices. 
     
     
         7 . The user device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the information identifying a plurality of said sets of snapshot data identifies a plurality of sets of snapshot data which are consecutive. 
     
     
         8 . The user device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the information identifying a plurality of said sets of snapshot data identifies a plurality of sets of snapshot data which are not consecutive. 
     
     
         9 . The user device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the difference data is applied to the predicted set of snapshot data to provide the next set of snapshot data using one of a subtraction operation or an addition operation. 
     
     
         10 . A computer implemented server configured to provide a computer implemented game, the computer implemented server comprising:
 a memory configured to store a plurality of sets of snapshot data for the computer implemented game, each set of snapshot data being associated with a respective time;   at least one processor configured to:   determine a predicted set of snapshot data using a plurality of the plurality of sets of snapshot data; and   determine difference data using the predicted set of snapshot data and a next set of snapshot data, and   a transmitter configured to send, to a user device, information about which of the plurality of sets of snapshot data are to be used by the user device to determine the predicted set of snapshot data, and the difference data.   
     
     
         11 . The computer implemented server as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine for which one or more game entities of the computer implemented game, data is to be included in a respective set of snapshot data. 
     
     
         12 . The computer implemented server as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine for which one or more game entities of the computer implemented game, data is to be included in a respective set of snapshot data based on a priority of a respective game entity. 
     
     
         13 . The computer implemented server as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine for which one or more game entities of the computer implemented game, data is to be included in a respective set of snapshot data based on one or more of a relevance associated with a respective game entity or an urgency associated with a respective game entity. 
     
     
         14 . The computer implemented server as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the difference data is determined by subtracting one of the predicted set of snapshot data and the next set of snapshot data from the other of the predicted set of snapshot data and the next set of snapshot data. 
     
     
         15 . The computer implemented server as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the respective set of snapshot data comprises one of a time stamp or a time range. 
     
     
         16 . The computer implemented server as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein one or more of the sets of snapshot data comprises data for one or more different entities of the computer implemented game. 
     
     
         17 . The computer implemented server as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein one or more of the sets of snapshot data comprises a plurality of fields for one or more of the one or more different entities. 
     
     
         18 . The computer implemented server as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein one or more of the one or more different entities is controlled by one or more players playing on respective different user devices. 
     
     
         19 . The computer implemented server as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the computer implemented game is a multiplayer computer implemented game where one instance of the computer implemented game is played by a plurality of different players on respective user devices. 
     
     
         20 . The computer implemented server as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the information identifying a plurality of said sets of snapshot data identifies a plurality of sets of snapshot data which are consecutive. 
     
     
         21 . The computer implemented server as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the information identifying a plurality of said sets of snapshot data identifies a plurality of sets of snapshot data which are not consecutive. 
     
     
         22 . A computer implemented method performed by a user device configured to provide a computer implemented game, the method comprising:
 storing, in a memory of the user device, a plurality of sets of snapshot data for the computer implemented game, each set of snapshot data being associated with a respective time;   receiving, by a receiver of the user device, information identifying a plurality of said sets of snapshot data, and difference data, the information identifying a plurality of said sets of snapshot data, and the difference data being received from a server;   determining, by at least one processor of the user device, a predicted set of snapshot data using the sets of snapshot data which have been identified by the information; and   applying, by the at least one processor the difference data to the predicted set of snapshot data to provide a next set of snapshot data.   
     
     
         23 . A computer implemented method performed by a computer implemented server configured to provide a computer implemented game, the method comprising:
 storing, in a memory of the computer implemented server, a plurality of sets of snapshot data for the computer implemented game, each set of snapshot data being associated with a respective time;   determining, by at least one processor of the computer implemented server, a predicted set of snapshot data using a plurality of the plurality of sets of snapshot data;   determining, by the at least one processor, difference data using the predicted set of snapshot data and a next set of snapshot data, and   transmitting, by a transmitter of the computer implemented server, to a user device, information about which of the plurality of sets of snapshot data are to be used by the user device to determine the predicted set of snapshot data, and the difference data.   
     
     
         24 . A computer readable non-transitory storage medium carrying one or more computer executable instructions which when run on at least one processor cause:
 storing, in a memory of a user device, a plurality of sets of snapshot data for a computer implemented game, each set of snapshot data being associated with a respective time;   receiving, by a receiver of the user device, information identifying a plurality of said sets of snapshot data, and difference data, the information identifying a plurality of said sets of snapshot data, and the difference data being received from a server;   determining a predicted set of snapshot data using the sets of snapshot data which have been identified by the information; and   applying the difference data to the predicted set of snapshot data to provide a next set of snapshot data.   
     
     
         25 . A computer readable non-transitory storage medium carrying one or more computer executable instructions which when run on at least one processor cause:
 storing, in a memory of a computer implemented server, a plurality of sets of snapshot data for the computer implemented game, each set of snapshot data being associated with a respective time;   determining a predicted set of snapshot data using a plurality of the plurality of sets of snapshot data;   determining difference data using the predicted set of snapshot data and a next set of snapshot data, and   transmitting, by a transmitter of the computer implemented server, to a user device, information about which of the plurality of sets of snapshot data are to be used by the user device to determine the predicted set of snapshot data, and the difference data.